The caRPi Aims to Be a Raspberry Pi-Powered Universal Car Computer for Vintage Vehicles
Supporting air suspension control, sensor monitoring, relay control, and even in-car entertainment, the caRPi wants to upgrade your ride.
Robotics developer Filip Kovacic Popov has launched a Raspberry Pi-powered device designed to bring the joys of modern car computing to vintage vehicles — everything from the Volkswagen Beetle and Ford Bronco to the Porsche 911 and Lamborghini Gallardo.
"The caRPi computer [is] the ultimate solution for restomods and old-timers," Popov writes of the device, which as the name implies is powered by a Raspberry Pi single-board computer. "This powerful computer is designed to help you modernize and automate your classic car with ease."
The heart of the device is a carrier board which connects to a Raspberry Pi over its 40-pin general-purpose input/output (GPIO) header. The idea is simple: the Raspberry Pi stands in place of the built-in electronic control unit (ECU) found in modern cars but missing from vintage vehicles — replicating mauch of its functionality.
The caRPi includes, Popov says, air suspension control, air conditioning control, relay control, oil pressure monitoring, a knock sensor, and digital and analog inputs for external sensors — along with a pair of CAN buses. In addition to monitoring and, where possible, tweaking the engine performance, the device can also double as an upgraded in-car entertainment (ICE) system — and control in-vehicle lighting, too.
The caRPi is now available to order on the Spacebug Tindie store at $895; the Raspberry Pi is not included; Popov claims the device is easy to install "whether you're a seasoned mechanic or just starting out."